Improvement in trace-buckles



J. THORNTON.

l HAPHER, WASHINGTON D C Unrrnn ST T-Es PATENT JAMES THORNTON, OFWELLSVILLE, ASSIGNOR OF ONEFOURTH HIS RIGHT TO PRATT & LETOHWORTH, OF-BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRACE-BUCKLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,593, dated March 7,1876; application filed December 3, 1875.

- hame-tug is attached, so that said bail or loop is permanently securedto the buckle-frame, the whole forming a buckle which can be moreconveniently handled than buckles'made in two detached parts, while atthe same time permitting the ready disengagement of the buckle foradjusting the trace, and forming a most reliable connection when inengagement, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvedtrace-buckle. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view,showing the buckle disengaged. Fig. 4 is a section in line :0 00,Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows the main portion of the buckle applied to aheel-chain trace.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in each of the figures.

A represents the hame-tug, and B the trace. 0 represents the frame orbody of the buckle, consisting of a plate fitting against the side ofthe trace, and provided with two flanges, c c, overlapping the edges ofthe trace, so as to properly guide the same. d and d are the two loops,formed with the frame 0, for the attachment of the back-pad andbellyband billet, respectively; and e, the projecting loop, to which theside strap is connected. 9

represents the tongue formed on the inner side of the frame G, andengaging in suitable holes in the trace. His the loop or bail, to whichthe hame-tug is secured. It is pro- "ided with two arms, h h, turning ontwo fixed pivots, t 45, formed with the frame or body 0 of the buckle,so as to project from the sides thereof, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and4. The bail His constructed of malleable metal, and bent over its pivotsin an obvious manner.

The tongue got the buckle being engaged in one of the holes of thetrace, and a strain or pull being applied to the same, the frame 0 isdrawn backward, thereby swinging the bailH on its pivots into a moreinclined position, so as to press it and the hame-tug against the trace,and holding the latter in close contact with the frame 0 and tongue 9,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pressure with which the parts are heldtogether being proportionate to the strain on the trace.

Upon pushing the frame 0 forward, so as to bring the arms h of the bailH into a vertical position, or nearly so, with reference to the frame 0,the latter can be swung outwardly on the pivots i, so as to disengagethe-tongue g from the trace, as shown in Fig. 3, when the trace is freeto be adjusted forward or backward, as may be desired. The side flangesc c of the frameO serve to guide the trace as it is adjusted.

My improved trace-buckle forms avery reliable fastening, as an increasedstrain on the trace will only tend to lock the parts more securelytogether, while at the same time it does not destroy the traces byexcessive compression, as trace-buckles doin which a detached sliding orwedging part is our ployed. Furthermore, in my improved tracebuckle thebail or loop H is permanently se cured to the frame of the buckle,forming therewith a single article, which can be more cheaply produced,and is more conveniently handled, both in packing and selling, and whenapplied to harness, than a buckle composed or two or more detachedparts.

The frame 0 of my improved trace-buckle, without the bail H, may be usedinstead of the so-called D-connection for heel-chain harness, when theframe is secured to the trace by rivets or screw-bolts, as shown inFig.5,

thereby forming a connection for the ditferent straps, which can bereadily adjusted on the trace, as may be required for horses ofdifferent sizes, and it is in this respect snpeing arms h h turning onsaid pivots, and be rim to the D-connection 110W in common use, ingpermanently attached to the buckle-framewhich is permanently secured tothe trace. substantially as and for the purpose herein,

I claim as my inventionbefore set forth. The combination, with thebuckle-frame I JAMES THORNTON. 0, provided with tongue g and fixedpivots Witnesses:

i 13, cast or otherwise formed on the sides LEWIS JONES,

thereof, of the swinging bail 01' 100p H, hav- WHEELER HAKE.

